Central Toxic Keratopathy after Small Incision Lenticule Extraction

Abstract

Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a corneal refractive surgical procedure based on flapless extraction of the intrastromal lenticule created by a femtosecond laser. Central toxic keratopathy is a rare, non-inflammatory complication of flap laser surgery using the femtosecond laser. This disorder is typically characterized by the triad of noninflammatory central corneal opacification, striae, and loss of stromal bed tissue, and it results in a hyperopic shift that causes a reduction in vision quality and it is not among the complications we are familiar with after the SMILE. Because of the growing number of refractive surgical procedures worldwide there may be an increasing incidence of this disorder. A differentiation from an inflammatory or infectious etiology and appropriate treatment is necessary for recovery. In this case report, we report a case of central toxic keratopathy in a 25 years old male patient after SMILE laser surgery.